Wrench with resilient jaw faces



April 29, 1952 B. M. ROTHE WRENCH WITH RESILIENT JAW FACES Filed Sept. 13 1.950

Ben M. Rot/1e INVENTOR.

Patented Apr. 29, 1952 2,594,684 RENCH WITH RESILIENT JAW FACES Ben M. Rothe, San Antonio, Tex.

Application September 13,

2 Claims.

The present invention relates broadly to the class of wrenches and has more particular reference to monkey wrenches, Stillson wrenches and those in the general category of pipe wrenches, but has more particular reference to cushioned protector' type jaw faces.

It is a matter of common knowledge that the use of toothed jaws on highly finished slip-joint nuts and the like results in marring and defacing the surfaces thereof. Nuts and bolts in this category are usually nickel plated or perhaps chromium coated and since the factor of appearance and finish is important, plumbers would naturally prefer to have especially faced jaws to eliminate scratching and injuring such surfaces. Therefore, it is an object of the instant invention to provide a wrench in the so-called pipe wrench field, wherein the fixed or relatively stationary inner jaw and outer relatively slidable or movable jaw both have opposed resilient jaw faces which are capable of gripping and turning an object without injuring the surface of same.

More specifically, novelty is predicated on a handle having jaw means at its outer end, having a recess and provided with a rubber or equivalent cushioned jaw face having a lug fitted into and retained in said recess.

Another object of the invention is to provide a relatively slidable or movable jaw unit of special two-part construction wherein one of the parts is jacketed in a resilient rubber or equivalent jacket fashioned to form the movable jaw face.

Other objects and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the accompanying sheet of drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the views:

Figure l is a side elevational view of a protector-type pipe wrench constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a view of a fragmentary type which is in section and elevation and which shows the principal means in the relatively slidable or movable jaw unit;

Figure 3 is a section on the vertical line 3-3 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the attachable and detachable protector-type jaw face for the relatively stationary jaw.

Referring now to the drawings by reference numerals and lead lines, one unit of the over-all wrench is denoted by the numeral 6 and the other 1950, Serial No. 184,649

complemental unit by the numeral 8. Unit 6 comprises a rigid handle or lever Ill terminating at its outer end in a relatively stationary work piece gripping jaw l2. The outer end portion is provided on one side with socket means I4 and guide ears l6 which serve to accommodate the relatively slidable jaw unit 8. Unit 8 comprises a shank l8 slidable in the means Hi and having a rack portion 20 to accommodate the adjusting nut 22. The shank in this instance is provided with an axial screw-threaded socket 24, as best shown in Figure 2, said socket to accommodate the screw-threaded shank 2B of an L-shaped adapter fitting 28. The limb 30 has the screwthreaded portion 26 which screws into the socket 24. The other lateral limb 32 provides the jaw proper. The complete exposed L-shaped portion of the adapter is enclosed in a rubber or equivalent jacket including portions 34 and 3% to enclose the limbs 30 and 32. The rubber jacket has a fiat suitably shaped surface 38 which is the resilient jaw face. Thus, this resilient jaw face is adjustable toward and from the jaw l2. The jaw 12 is provided with a segmental recess 40 to accommodate a lug or ear 42 on the rectangular complemental resilient or cushioned jaw face 44. Thus, the faces 44 and 38 provide the necessary accommodating grips for the work piece (not shown) By providing these cushioned jaws a plumber or other user may work on chromium or nickel plated faucets, bolts, nuts and the like without fear of defacing the highly polished surfaces of same.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, it is believed that a clear understanding of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention, the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described and within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. For use as a component part of a wrench, a new article of manufacture comprising a shank having rack means and an adjusting nut therefor, said shank being provided at one end with an axial socket and said socket being internally screw threaded, an L-shaped adapter having one arm provided with a screw threaded providing a jaw face, said said socket, and a rubber jacket conforming in shape to and completely enclosing said adapter. said jacket including a flat surfaced portion constituting a cushioned jaw face.

2. A wrench of the class described comprising a primary unit embodying a handle member having a relatively stationary jaw at its outer work engaging end, said jaw being flat and provided with a recess, a flat faced portion screwed into block having a lug, means joining said lug to said stationary jaw, and a secondary jaw unit slidable on said handle member and embodying a shank having rack means and an adjusting nut therefor, said shank being provided at one end with an axial socket and said socket being internally screw-threaded, an L-shaped adapter having one arm provided with a screw-threaded portion screwed into said resilient rubber block 10 socket, and a rubber jacket conforming in shape to and co mpletely enclosing said eluding a flat surfaced adapter, said stituting a cushioned jaw face.

The following references are of BEN M. ROTHE.

REFERENCES CITED record in the Number Name Date Kasch Aug. 5, 1890 Hall Oct. 9, 1894 Newell Apr. 5, 1898 Winslow July 13, 1909 Belcher Aug. 2, 1921 Hinds Oct. 12, 1926 Butt Feb. 7, 1928 

